Risk genes for multiple sclerosis uncovered
... seemingly separate conditions. Another region harbors a gene called the IL-7 receptor, which helps to control the activity of a class of immune cells called regulatory T cells. Two papers appearing simultaneously in Nature Genetics confirm this finding, and explore how the change in the IL-7 receptor af...Innovative research technique reveals another natural wonder in Yellowstone Park
.... But the park is also a scientific reservoir that harbors what may be the world's largest diversity of thermophilic (heat-loving) microorganisms. Discovered in microbial mats in three of Yellowstone's hot springs, Cab. thermophilum belongs to a new genus and species. It also belongs to the Acidobacteria p...Wright State scientist receives grant to help clean up polluted American harbors
Most of the harbors in America are in trouble. The culprit is pollutio...lean-up is needed. The clean-up costs for these harbors and large rivers can be staggering, costing tens to hundreds of millions of dollars per site, said A...Dinosaur hearing, listening to muscle noise, quieter cubicles
...IN PORTS AND HARBORS Acoustics can make ports and harbors more secure. Karim Sabra of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography ( ksabra@mpl.ucsd.edu ) will present encouraging proof-of-concept measurements of an "acoustic tripwire" surveillance system for detecting intruders in harbor entrances. Their tech...Study shows isolation of stem cells may lead to a treatment for hearing loss
...ogenitors. This led us to hypothesize that cochlea harbors stem cells and neural precursor cells. Our work in collaboration with Millers lab supports our hypothesis Dr. Alagramam said. They say that in early life, these precursor cells may be able to regenerate hair cells, but their capacity to do so becomes...Largest-ever search for autism genes reveals new clues
...me 11 most strongly linked to autism in this study harbors genes for proteins that shuttle glutamate across the synapse. Although detected previously, the linkage signal at this site was regarded as less important until now. Submicroscopic anomalies tiny deletions, or the doubling, tripling or even multi...Cells passed from mother to child during pregnancy live on and make insulin
...Microchimerism is the term used when an individual harbors cells or DNA that originate from another genetically distinct individual. "To our knowledge a maternal contribution to endocrine function has not previously been described," the authors said. "Our findings also raise the possibility that naturally ac...How appetite-stimulating brain cells work overtime during fasting
...scientists did know that that portion of the brain harbors thyroid hormone receptors and has the capacity for local production of T3. Now, the researchers found that support cells in the hypothalamus producing an enzyme that catalyzes active thyroid hormone production are side by side with appetite-stimula...Buildup of damaged DNA in cells drives aging
...moval of DNA damage. The XPF portion of the enzyme harbors the DNA-cutting activity; whereas a second portion, known as ERCC1, is essential for the enzyme to bind to the damaged DNA. Mutations in either XPF or ERCC1 lead to reduced activity of this key DNA repair enzyme. "We were completely surprised by th...News tips from the Journal of Neuroscience
...ian Bauer and Paul H. Patterson The adult brain harbors a supply of neural stem cells that could in principle replace neurons lost to injury or disease. Thus, there has been a considerable search for the right cocktail of factors to unleash the regenerative potential of these neural stem cells. This week,...Ice-breaker Polarstern to explore uncharted seafloor
... American geoscience research team, this 8 km zone harbors mounds spewing out fluid and mud particles, as well as clusters of large clams. These mollusks and their associated fauna probably depend on chemical energy from the Earth, rather than one driven by photosynthesis from the sun or from hot emissions r...Ecosystem of vanishing lake yields valuable bacterium
...s, Soap Lake as we know it and the unique life it harbors may not exist."...Rodent's bizarre traits deepen mystery of genetics, evolution
... is not only the fastest evolving mammal, but also harbors a number of puzzling genetic traits that challenge current scientific understanding. "Nobody has posters of voles on their wall," said J. Andrew DeWoody, associate professor of genetics in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, whose stud...Islands spark accelerated evolution
...of these changes may explain why the fossil record harbors few examples of intermediate forms between the mainland ancestor and island descendant. Millien's results are also consistent with the hypothesis that evolution rates for island species slow down after the initial period of accelerated change, approa...Study illuminates how the plague bacteria causes disease
...resistance. In the case of Yersinia, the plasmid harbors numerous genes, including a large number that contribute to the ability of diverse pathogens to deliver virulence factors into host cells. One of these genes is YpkA, a protein with multiple domains, including one closely related to an enzyme, a type...Ocean seep mollusks may share evolutionary history with other deep-sea creatures
...Cold seeps may have been--and continue to be--safe harbors for the mollusks, protecting them from mass extinctions and possible abrupt oxygen changes in the seas, the researchers found. However, many deep-sea species outside of the cold seeps have also managed to ride out these changes. "The shallow water ...Discovery of metabolic pathway for parasite could lead to new controls for diseases
...vention. The closely related malaria parasite also harbors an apicoplast. As early as 1998, researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia published a paper suggesting the apicoplast as a target for new antimalarial drugs. The new paper, however, is the first to explain that the fatty acid synthesis...A candidate gene for familial idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis identified
...p=0.0001, 95 % CI=2.315.9). The critical region harbors two novel candidate genes, ELMOD2, and LOC152586 that both are poorly characterized. An in vitro translation assay with LOC152586 failed to produce any peptide suggesting it is not a protein-coding gene. mRNA expression of ELMOD2 was decreased in lun...... In FOP patients, one of the two ACVR1 gene copies harbors a mutation that causes the ACVR1 protein to be incorrectly made." In FOP, the ACVR1 gene is damaged by the substitution of a single genetic letter at a specific location in the gene. The single nucleotide substitution changes the meaning of the gene......prey; makes maneuvering through bramble difficult; harbors parasites, and, as we have said, retains heat. Overheating explains why lions in colder climates have longer, thicker manes: the heat-retention cost of a full mane is less for lions in cold weather conditions than it is for lions in hot weather cond...